'Big heart' but 'can't help': Indian Army on Kargil War veteran declared 'foreigner'

Days after a Kargil War veteran was declared a ‘foreigner’ in Assam, the Indian Army has finally issued a statement that won’t be of much help to the troubled soldier. According to report by ‘The Hindu’, the Army said that it was not appropriate to intervene in the case as it has now become a legal matter. It also added that it had ‘big’ heart for Mohammed Sanaullah, but ‘can’t help much’ The soldier in army for over three decades, Sanaullah was also awarded the President’s Medal in 2014. On May 29, he was taken into custody and taken to a detention centre in Assam’s Goalpara after a tribunal declared him a 'foreigner'.

“We discussed his case with the Rajya Sainik Board too. They said he has to fight this out through lawyers. But we will definitely extend help during the course of the legal process, if needed,” an army officer was quoted as saying by The Hindu. Several former officials have come out in support of Sanaullah and said that the Army must back him.

“Honorary Lieutenant Mohd Sanaullah arrested & sent to Detention Center for foreigners & illegal immigrants in Gauhati. Arrest follows an order of a Foreigners’ tribunal. Army needs to investigate & save the retired officer from harassment,” retired Brigadier V Mahalingam had tweeted.

As per the Foreigner’s Tribunal order dated 23 May, Sanaullah failed to prove that he is an Indian citizen by birth and hence declared a ‘foreigner’.

Mohammad Sanaullah, a resident of Kolohikash village under Boko police station in Kamrup district and now serving as assistant sub-inspector (ASI) in border police, was declared a 'foreigner' by the Foreigners Tribunal, Kamrup. This came following a case registered there in 2008 after Sanaullah's name was listed as a 'D' (doubtful) voter in the voters list, according to Kamrup district Additional Superintendent of Police Sanjib Saikia. After the verdict of the tribunal, Saikia said police according to laid down procedure, picked up Sanaullah and took him to the detention camp in Goalpara district to be lodged there.

(With agency inputs)